Adventure Hikking Trekking Kilimanjaro Climb 7 Days Marangu Route

Duration
7 Days
Destination
Mt Kilimanjaro
Travellers
50+
  • Tour Overview
  • Tour Plan
  • Kilimanjaro Climbing Cost
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Kilimanjaro Climb - 7 Days Marangu Route


The Coca Cola Route

Marangu is a term derived from the native Chagga language and the direct translation is “full of water”. This description corresponds with the luscious, green pastures and beautiful landscapes accordingly. The Marangu Route is highly frequented and it is the oldest route travelled. The Marangu Route is said to be the easiest way to the summit – it ascends gradually which allows for a generally effortless trek. It is the only route that approaches the Kilimanjaro from the southeast. The required time needed to complete the hike is 5 days experts recommend a 6th day for extra acclimatisation on the mountain. The accommodation sets this route apart from the others as there are dormitory style sleeping huts.

What's included

Destination
Mt Kilimanjaro Discover Mt Kilimanjaro
Additional Information
Visas: Visas are required for all visitors
Price includes
  • All Government taxes and levies including 18% VAT.
  • All meals while on the mountain
  • All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
  • Beautifully illustrated souvenir map
  • Community Development Fund
  • Conservation Fund
  • Fair Wages
  • Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
  • Increases in airfares or Government imposed taxes
  • Kilimanjaro Certificates after Trek
  • Kilimanjaro National Park Entrance fees
  • Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
  • Medical insurance and emergency insurance
  • Quality mess tents with table and chairs
  • Quality, waterproof, four seasons private mountain sleeping tents
Price does not include
  • Laundry Services
  • Other International flights
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips to Mountain Crew
  • Visa arrangements
  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6
  • Day 7
Day 1

Kilimanjaro Airport to Moshi

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged hotel in Moshi town. You will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
  • Driving distance: 55 km/miles,
  • Driving Time: 1hour
  • Habitat: Cultivated zone
  • Hotel: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2

Drive from Moshi to Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

You will have a chance to familiarise yourself with your guides, chefs and porters before departing the hotel in Moshi. You will begin your journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro after completing the gate registration. A great length of the hike is spent venturing on a narrow trail that is enclosed by the evergreen rainforest. Reaching Kisambioni is a milestone as it signifies that we are at the halfway point of the trek. We will sit down and enjoy a picnic lunch. We will continue walking through the rainforests of Kilimanjaro after lunch. Our final destination is the Mandara Hut. Once we arrive you can decide whether you want to relax for the rest of the day or take a leisurely stroll to the Maundi Crater. If you face the northwest you will see the striking Mawenzi Peak which resembles a crown in the sky with its prickly edges. Turn to the east and you will see the picturesque landscapes of Taveta. Visiting on a day with clear skies will ensure that you get maximum viewing pleasure. You will spend the night in the A-frame Mandara Huts which accommodate up to seventy people and feature beds with mattresses. There are several sleeping huts and a dining area.
  • Distance: 12km/8miles,
  • Hiking Time: 6-8 hours,
  • Eleven: 9,300 ft to 11,811 ft
  • Habitat: Heath.
Day 3

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Elevation Gain: 977 meters (3,200 feet) Walking Time:5-6 hours Distance:11km We will start heading towards Horombo Hut after breakfast. The environment will shift drastically as the 7 Days Marangu Route requires us to travel through Mount Kilimanjaro’s moorland, a rock-strewn desert plain with succulent plants. There will be a picnic lunch at Kambi ya Taabu during the hike. If the skies are clear you will have a chance to witness the scenic views of the Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. We will arrive at the Horombo Huts at approximately 3:00pm and the afternoon can be spent relaxing. The Horombo Huts are exceptionally busy but they’re considered to be the finest huts on Mount Kilimanjaro. The little, A-frame huts can house a maximum of eight people and provide suitable lodging for hikers ascending, descending and acclimatising. They can accommodate a maximum of 120 hikers with additional room for porters, chiefs and guides.
  • Distance: 5km/3miles,
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours,
  • Eleven: 11,811 ft to 14,160 ft
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 4

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

Elevation Gain: 1,030 meters (3,380 feet) Walking Time:6-8hours Distance:10km After breakfast we will hike through the moorland and the alpine desert region of Mount Kilimanjaro. After hiking for about an hour we will encounter a small mountain stream called the Maua River. Once you pass Maua you will notice that the terrain gets smoother and the vegetation starts to diminish. We will have an appetising lunch at the Middle Red Hill. We will continue our trek shortly after lunch and spend the next tour hours traveling to Kibo on a steady incline through Mount Kilimanjaro’s Saddle. The silver lining to traveling through a baron dessert is the breathtakingly stunning vista of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. You will reach the Kibo hut in the afternoon. It is recommended that you rest and prepare for your midnight climb.
  • Distance: 8km/5miles,
  • Hiking Time: 5-6 hours,
  • Eleven: 14,160 ft to 15,430 ft
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 5

Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut

The final leg of your journey is the ascent to Uhuru Peak which has been award the title ‘The Roof of Africa’. We will leave shortly after midnight and begin with the strenuous five hour hike to Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. This is considered to be the least challenging of the three crater ascent paths but it is still an arduous hike. William’s Point is the first major rest stop and it usually takes two hours from the Kibo Hut to arrive at the five thousand metre mark. After thirty minutes of hiking you will reach the rocky bends and twists that continue for over six hundred metres or until you reach Gillman’s Point. The incline from Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak increases gradually consequently it is not a difficult hike. You will feel tired and this part will take long due to the high altitude. The crater rim hike will last about two hours. Once you reach the summit, we have allocated time for you to take some photographs and celebrate your triumph. We will start descending to Horombo Hut – our final stop on the route. The route down the summit has magnificent views that you could not see when you were climbing the mountain. You will have a chance to stop at the Kibo Hut to recollect yourself and enjoy some energy dense snacks. We will reach the Horombo Huts in the afternoon and you can spend the time enjoying your last moments on the mountain.
  • Distance: 6km/4miles and 16km/10miles
  • Hiking Time: 6-8 hours & 4-5 hours
  • Eleven:15,430 ft to 19,341 to 12,250 ft.
  • Habitat: Arctic and Heath
Day 6

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate to Moshi

We will finish the trek by descending to the Marangu Gate after breakfast. The final hike is simply magical. You will hike amid the gods in Mount Kilimanjaro’s tranquil cloud forest. We advise that you watch your step as the trail can be fairly slippery. Our vehicles will be waiting at Marangu Gate to drive you back to Moshi. You will have an opportunity to buy sodas and souvenirs to prove that the 7 Days Marangu Route was conquered.
  • Distance: 20km/12miles
  • Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
  • Eleven:12,205 ft to 6,046
  • Habitat: Rain Forest
Day 7

Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport

A driver will bring you to Kilimanjaro Airport, from where you will connect your flight. If you’ve opted to go on a safari – well, that’s a different adventure and we’ll be thrilled to arrange it for you too!

The true price of a cheap Kilimanjaro climb

If you are planning for Kilimanjaro Climbing Adventure and you have many quotes with variable prices, you might be confused and worried!

What does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro and what should a Kilimanjaro climb cost you?

The prices for Kilimanjaro climbs vary wildly. To climb Kilimanjaro can cost you anything from $1000 to $4000 and above.

(There are some operators advertising cheap Kilimanjaro climbs that cost below $1200. Don't go there. Actually, don't go below $1700. You'll see why.)

That is the cost of your Kilimanjaro climb itself. It does not necessarily include you accommodation before and after, it definitely does not include the equipment you need to buy, the vaccinations, the flight...

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not a cheap holiday!

Of course you try to save money where you can. The temptation is big to go hunting for the cheapest Kilimanjaro climb.

DON'T! Do not start your search for a Kilimanjaro climb by looking at the cost first.

If you do, you may end up paying the ultimate price, or someone else may have to pay it for you...

Every year both climbers and porters die on Kilimanjaro. Needlessly.

Also, was it really such a great buy if you then fail to make it to the summit? Would you really feel good to know that children have to go hungry or aren't able to continue their education, just so you could save a few bucks?

I didn't think so.

Few tourists are aware why the cost of climbing Kilimanjaro is so high and where the budget operators cut corners to drop the prices. Let's look at where your money actually goes, what you pay for, and why.

The true cost of a Kilimanjaro climb

Several hundred climb operators are competing for business on Kilimanjaro, which has resulted in a cut throat price war. Good for you, you may think. Drops the prices.

Well, sure, it does,. But if operators drop prices they also have to cut expenses to stay profitable.

The steep Kilimanjaro National Park fees are something that nobody can change. For a six day/five night camping trek you pay about $800 in fees alone!

So where can operators save? And how does it affect you?

The links and information below will shed some light on that.

The very first place where budget Kilimanjaro operators will cut costs is staff expenses. And I am not talking about the lovely lady in the office who takes your booking. I am talking about the porters.

Booking a cheap Kilimanjaro climb? The money you save is coming straight out of the pockets of your Kilimanjaro porters, and porters' wages are not the only place where money is saved at their expense. Read that page before you book a cheap Kilimanjaro climb!

Of course, all other staff on a budget climb are also paid less and treated with less respect. Few staff on Kilimanjaro climbs have permanent or at least reliable employment. Most of them freelance.

If someone does not get decent pay, does not get appreciated and has no idea who he will work for next time, how do you think that affects their motivation? How much will they care if you reach the summit or not? And whether you enjoy the experience or not?

Also, your safety depends on how many guides/assistant guides are on your team and how well trained they are by the company.

Hopefully you will have a great Kilimanjaro climb in good weather and without any complications. But if things turn pear shaped, the one thing you want to be sure of is that your Kilimanjaro guide is one of the best!

A trick of the trade to make Kilimanjaro climbs LOOK cheap is to not include all costs up front. I already mentioned porter wages and tips on the Kilimanjaro porters page, but there are other costs and fees that can be dropped. You will still have to pay the money when you get there! Read carefully about what is included in a climb when comparing prices and be wary of those hidden costs.

Another place where money can be saved is equipment and food. Neither is a luxury!

This is not about comfort for softies and weaklings. This is about making it to the summit or not. If you can't sleep at night because you are cold and miserable, then you won't be making it to the summit.

Quality equipment that keeps you warm and dry even in the worst weather costs money. And there is so much other equipment, for the kitchen, the mess tent and more, that budget operators can leave behind to cut costs. It makes the trek physically harder on you and decreases your chances to reach the summit.

The cost of food on a Kilimanjaro climb is not a major factor. Food can be bought cheaply in Tanzania. But carrying food up the mountain costs money. So the quality fresh stuff, the fruit and vegetables, are the first to get cut from the shopping list of a budget operator.

You need quality food to sustain you for the rigour of the six or more days ahead of you. It should be high in fluids and high in carbohydrates. (Important at altitude!)

And it should taste good! You will have no appetite. Loss of appetite is one of the symptoms of being at altitude. But you have to eat. Your body needs the fuel! So the food better be nice. You want your operator to pay attention to this.

How well is the cook trained? And the rest of the staff? What about food hygiene? Training costs money.

Don't be surprised if you end up with a bad case of traveller's diarrhea if climbing with a budget operator. It happens very easily and it doesn't exactly increase your summit chances.

And what about the rubbish? Do you think a budget operator will spend money on making sure it is all carried back down the mountain again? Or voluntarily spend money on clean up crews? Just wait till you see the busier trails and campsites on the mountain.

Environmentally responsible behavior also costs money.

There are a thousand little things where a budget operator can cut corners and save money. I haven't mentioned a fraction of them and most of them you will never notice or be aware of. The things I can make you aware of may seem like little things to you, something you'll cope with, something you can do without. But it adds up!

What it comes down to is that your chances of reaching the summit and your chances of coming back down alive increase and decrease with the cost of your Kilimanjaro climb.

You want to book a climb that is run by mountaineers, people who understand mountains, who understand the risks and know how to manage them. People who care about you, about how much you'll enjoy the trek, about their staff and about the mountain.

You will not find those people for $1200. In fact, you won't find them for under $1700. For a six day Kilimanjaro climb, booked in advance, that is the absolute minimum cost that you should budget for, and you will be sacrificing quality of experience at that level (e.g. you will be climbing on a more crowded or less scenic Kilimanjaro route).

Kilimanjaro climbs that cost less are guaranteed to cut corners. But not every climb above $1700 is guaranteed to be a quality, safe one! Not by a long shot. You better do some thorough research if you want to book in that range!

There are other factors that determine the final cost of your Kilimanjaro climb and that allow you to save some money.

The larger the climb group, the lower the price per person. There are operators who put over 20 people in one group. Add to that at least two porters per person, cooks, assistant guides and guides... And you have a whole army trekking up that mountain! I think I'd rather spend a few dollars extra...

A private climb with two people is very expensive, but a group of up to twelve people is bearable and affordable. At least that's how I experienced it.

What will also determine the overall cost is the route you'll be taking.The more scenic and less crowded routes are more expensive. That's discussed in the section about Kilimanjaro climb routes. So $1700 might be a half decent climb up the Marangu route, but you won't be finding that on the Lemosho route.

And last but not least, booking from overseas is more expensive than booking when you get there. BUT, you have the piece of mind of knowing when your trek will depart, that it will indeed depart, and you have the time to do research and ensure you are with a responsible operator. (About 90% of Kilimanjaro climbers book from overseas.

More about Mt Kilimanjaro

MT KILIMANJARO

Kilimanjaro. The name itself is a mystery wreathed in clouds. It might mean Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans. Or it might not. The local people, the Wachagga, don’t even have a name for the whole massif, only Kipoo (now known as Kibo) for the familiar snowy peak that stands imperious, overseer of the continent, and the summit of Africa.   Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see it, you understand why. Not only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland – elevation around 900 metres – to an imperious 5,895 metres (19,336 feet).   Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors from around the world. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit, or Gillman’s Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing certificates. And their memories.   But there is so much more to Kili than her summit. The ascent of the slopes is a virtual climatic world tour, from the tropics to the Arctic. Even before you cross the national park boundary (at the 2,700m contour), the cultivated foot slopes give way to lush montane forest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the endangered Abbot’s duiker, and other small antelope and primates. Higher still lies the moorland zone, where a cover of giant heather is studded with otherworldly giant lobelias.   Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses and lichen. Then, finally, the last vestigial vegetation gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow – and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.

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Kilimanjaro Climb 7 Days Marangu Route

Duration
7 Days
Destination
Mt Kilimanjaro
Travellers
50+

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